Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - For Sri Lanka there is a fluid political season on the horizon with the announced presidential elections on 17 November and increasing political and social conflict. On 21 September parliament extended for another month the state of emergency called after the murder on 12 August in Colombo of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
In the meantime, according to local Church sources, social instability in growing and murders are reported every day particularly in areas under control of the Tamil minority. The state of emergency gives special powers to the army and police and more control at check points causes tension to rise giving the idea of a country which is militarised.
The Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam movement opposed the measure saying that is undermines the peace process started with a cease fire agreement in February 2002 but which has since stalled. Local Fides sources said “talks have been interrupted and peace is threatened”, and this is why the local Catholic community is making every effort to encourage to sides to resume negotiations.
Observers say the state of emergency could last until 13 October, (two months after the assassination of the foreign minister), to allow the electoral campaign to be as normal as possible. Candidates for presidency are the leaders of the two main parties: premier Mahinda Rajapakse, of the People's Alliance and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe of the United National Party.
The main items on campaign agendas will be the peace process and the economic future of Sri Lanka.
In the meantime political atmosphere is overheated after two agreements signed by the prime minister. The first an agreement with extreme Marxist party People’s Liberation Front JVP which dismisses the accord with the Tamil on sharing of aid for tsunami victims. The second an agreement with the Buddhist fundamentalist party JHU (Jathika Hela Urumaya, National Heritage Part ) to allow the Buddhist religion to be proclaimed the state religion. The agreements have provoked widespread debate and fierce objection on the part of the People's Alliance.
The Tamils themselves appear divided. In April one LTTE faction broke away from the rest of the movement. The rebels accused the army of helping to break up the Tamil front.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam movement started in 1976 by Vellupilai Prabahkaran controls the north and east mainly Tamil areas of the Island. An estimated 60,000 people died in 20 years of civil war between separatist rebels and the government of Colombo. In 2002 the parties signed a cease fire agreement but a proper pact for peace has yet to be reached.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2005 righe: 37 parole: 376)
